Can a Freelander handle my off-road house?

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

Hi

Can anyone give me some advice?

We live off-road, and when I say off-road I mean it. The track to our house is little more than a mile of really bad tractor track consisting of hard core, 3 cattle grids and pot holes. Over the 7 years of living here we have gone through a number of vehicles (not Landrovers) by destroying their suspension and costing us a small fortune in the process. Now my husband has said enough is enough and wants me to find the next replacement that will handle the track on a daily basis.

I've been looking at the Freelander TD4 - reason I chose this one is because mpg is a major factor too and the Freelander's seems pretty reasonable - and would like comments on whether these can deal with off-road conditions (i.e are they solid underneath) or are they just an 'urban' 4x4 for pulling caravans, etc. on the road?

Thanks in advance for your help!
Theresa

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

it would be cheaper to tarmac the mile than a freelander would cost you over a few years

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

Hi 90boy - thanks for the swift reply.

Sadly tarmacing the track isn't an option as it cuts across farmland that we don't own.

Seriously though, are you telling me that (if driven carefully not like in your pictures!!) the Freelander would fall apart after a couple of years? I mean, we've got a Mazda Bongo that has lasted that long!!

Theresa

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

whats wrong with a disco or a defender anything but a freelander

Oddie · Sep 5, 2009

The doors will fall off and the head gasket will blow! Get a proper landy - Gaylanders are really only chelsea tractors without the reliability - you'd be better off with a defender or even a nissan than a freelander.

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

Hi guys - thanks for the replies.

OK so I take the hint that you hold Freelanders in rather low regard. And as for the comment about a Nissan, yes we've been looking at the Terrano too.

While I'd love to have a Defender (like I used to drive on the farm), I really can't afford the diesel these days. So I'm looking around for something of a Holy Grail. A rugged vehicle that can take the track and is good on mpg too. Go on make my day and tell me I'll be looking for a long time.......

Regards

Theresa

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

yep you will be looking for a long time, a defender or disco will do around the 30-35 mpg mark i dont think a freelander is much better

Oddie · Sep 5, 2009

How much ground clearance do you need? How about a Rav4 or a daihatsu - we lived down a track about a mile long that claimed many cars and had a daihatsu "feroza" (european version of the fourtrak i think) and it was faultless (it was only a 1.6 petrol but it never missed a beat).

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

90boy -

Is there any real difference in the ability to handle rough terrain between the Defender and the Disco?

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

toadie said:
90boy -

Is there any real difference in the ability to handle rough terrain between the Defender and the Disco?

if all the off road use it gets is a 1 mile long rough track no

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

90boy -

Is there any real difference between a Disco and a Defender underneath - you know suspension wise because they differ quite a lot on mpg according to a couple of sites I've looked at recently.

Regards

Theresa

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

There is not a great diffence no they are pritty much the same the disco just seems to bit a little better on fuel

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

odenne said:
How much ground clearance do you need?

odenne - clearance isn't really too much of a problem (except in the snow) as the track is regularly used by the shepherd and other farm workers. It is just hard on the suspension due to the generally uneven surface and the ruts and potholes.

Regards

Theresa

David Nimrod · Sep 5, 2009

You could try a Kia Sorento... with proper tyres - they're economical, have a proper chassis, etc. etc.

That should handle it...

Or how about a Discovery

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

90boy said:
if all the off road use it gets is a 1 mile long rough track no

So we might be ok with a Disco and take advantage of the better mpg?

Regards

Theresa

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

toadie said:
So we might be ok with a Disco and take advantage of the better mpg?

Regards

Theresa

that is what i would do if i could afford one i would have a disco for the mrs what your budget ??

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

David Nimrod said:
You could try a Kia Sorento... with proper tyres - they're economical, have a proper chassis, etc. etc.

That should handle it...

Or how about a Discovery

Hi David

I read somewhere that they slip on wet grass!! Aren't they just another 'Chelsea tractor' as odenne put it?

Regards

Theresa

toadie · Sep 5, 2009

90boy said:
that is what i would do if i could afford one i would have a disco for the mrs what your budget ??

3.5 to 4k including part ex'ing the Bongo for which we've been offered between 1.5k (philistine) and 3k (I've invited this man to my house for tea).

Regards

Theresa

90boy · Sep 5, 2009

toadie said:
3.5 to 4k including part ex'ing the Bongo for which we've been offered between 1.5k (philistine) and 3k (I've invited this man to my house for tea).

Regards

Theresa

you would get a fairly good td5 disco for that or a very good 300 tdi

David Nimrod · Sep 5, 2009

toadie said:
Hi David

I read somewhere that they slip on wet grass!! Aren't they just another 'Chelsea tractor' as odenne put it?

They're not nearly expensive enough to be a "Chelsea Tractor'

As to the grass, well, what do I know :5bsifone:

Can a Freelander handle my off-road house?

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